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Optimal timing of first posttreatment FDG PET/CT in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Leung Alan S.,
Rath Tanya J.,
Hughes Marion A.,
Kim Seungwon,
Branstetter Barton F.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24112
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , positron emission tomography , nuclear medicine , head and neck , biopsy , radiology , basal cell , fluorodeoxyglucose , retrospective cohort study , head and neck cancer , radiation therapy , surgery
Background The optimal timing for the initial posttreatment fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scan after definitive treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unclear. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 247 patients with definitively treated nonmetastatic HNSCC. First posttreatment PET/CT scans were grouped into: <7 weeks, 7 to 10 weeks, 11 to 14 weeks, and ≥15 weeks. Scans were categorized as positive or negative and accuracy of scans was calculated for each group using biopsy, subsequent imaging, or clinical follow‐up for 1 year after treatment as a reference standard. Results Sixty‐seven of the 247 patients (27.1%) had treatment failure. Scans performed at <7 weeks were less accurate than all other time intervals ( p < .05). Scans performed at all other intervals were similar in accuracy. Conclusion First posttreatment PET/CT can be obtained as early as 2 months after therapy. Scans performed earlier than 2 months have lower accuracy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38 : E853–E858, 2016